Motor control device, image forming apparatus, motor control method, and computer-readable storage medium

ABSTRACT

A motor control device includes a motor lock state determining unit configured to determine whether a motor is in a rotation lock state; a position hold state determining unit configured to determine whether the motor is in a position hold state; a lock detection invalidation determining unit configured to invalidate the determination of the lock state when the motor is in the position hold state and when a predetermined condition is satisfied; a position error correction unit configured to correct an error of a target stop position of the motor when the determination of the lock state is invalidated; and a motor control unit configured to change a rotation direction of the motor in a time shorter than a time in which the motor lock state determining unit determines the lock state when the motor is in the position hold state after the error is corrected.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/751,209, filed on Jan. 28, 2013, which claims priority to andincorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese PatentApplication No. 2012-022861 filed in Japan on Feb. 6, 2012, JapanesePatent Application No. 2012-149598 filed in Japan on Jul. 3, 2012, andJapanese Patent Application No. 2013-005588 filed in Japan on Jan. 16,2013, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a motor control device, an image formingapparatus, a motor control method, and a computer-readable storagemedium.

2. Description of the Related Art

As an image processing apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, ascanner, a copier, and an MFP thereof, there is known anelectrophotography image forming apparatus for forming an electrostaticlatent image on a surface of a photosensitive drum that is an imagecarrier, making the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitivedrum to a visible image by developing the electrostatic latent imagewith toner and the like that are a developer, transferring the developedimage onto a recording sheet (also called a sheet, recording medium, andrecording material) by a transfer device and causing the recording sheetto carry the image, and fixing a toner image on the recording sheet by afixing device using pressure, heat, and the like.

Further, there is known a so-called inkjet image forming apparatus forforming an image by depositing ink as a liquid on a recording sheetwhile conveying the recording sheet using a device including a recordinghead composed of a liquid ejection head.

In the image forming apparatuses described above, it is known that a DCmotor (direct current motor, hereinafter, also simply called a motor) isused as a drive unit of a sheet conveying unit and the sheet conveyingunit is driven by executing feedback control by detecting the rotationspeed of the DC motor so that the rotation speed becomes a set targetspeed.

Although a DC motor generally has small average power consumption ascompared with a conventionally used stepping motor, it has a largemaximum current. Accordingly, when some disadvantage and the like occurand a load becomes large, a current flowing to the DC motor increasesand the DC motor generates excessive heat and a danger arises in thatthe DC motor is damaged depending on circumstances.

In particular, when the DC motor is applied with an excessive load andplaced in a lock state (state that the DC motor cannot be rotated and isstopped), there is a possibility that a large amount of a current flowsto a switching element such as a field-effect transistor (FET) and thelike in a control circuit of the DC motor and the switching element isdamaged.

To overcome the problem, there is proposed a technology for detecting alock state from a pulse change amount of a signal from a Hall element(magnetic sensor) of a DC motor, and the like and cutting off the outputof the DC motor and a technology for avoiding a lock state from beingerroneously detected from a state of a DC motor or a load driven by theDC motor.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-347296discloses a matter as to a DC motor used to drive an ink carrier of aninkjet printer. According to a technology of Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open No. 2002-347296, first, each time the duty of a pulse signalis controlled at each predetermined time, whether or not the duty of thepulse signal becomes a maximum value is determined. The number of timesthe duty becomes the maximum value is counted by a counter and thenumber of times counted by the counter is increased until the countedvalue of the counter becomes a predetermined value without stopping theDC motor even if the duty has become the maximum value. Thereafter, whenthe count value of the counter has reached the predetermined value, itis determined that the DC motor is in the lock state (in which the DCmotor cannot rotate and is stopped), and a voltage applied to the DCmotor is interrupted.

Further, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.2004-324105 discloses to detect the engine stop of a vehicle and tochange a determination threshold value used to determine whether or nota window glass is sandwiched when a battery voltage has reached apredetermined lower limit value (when a voltage stabilizing time haspassed). From the technology, there is disclosed a device for avoidingan erroneous detection of lock of a DC motor for opening/closing awindow glass.

In an image forming apparatus, it is necessary to place a DC motor in astate in which the DC motor is stopped while holding the rotationposition of the motor to provide a sheet with a sag while the sheetbeing conveyed (hereinafter, called a position hold state) in additionto that the DC motor is subjected to a state of ordinary sheet conveyingcontrol (acceleration/constant speed/deceleration control) (hereinafter,called an ordinary rotation state).

However, the conventional technologies for avoiding the erroneousdetection of lock have a problem described below. That is, theconventional technologies for avoiding the lock erroneous detection donot execute control by discriminating whether the DC motor is in anordinary rotation state or in a position hold state. Accordingly, aproblem arises in that when a motor is controlled to a position holdstate, since it is erroneously detected that the motor is in a lockstate and the output of the motor is cut off, the rotation position ofthe motor (that is, a sheet position) cannot be held.

Therefore, there is a need to avoid an erroneous detection of lock of amotor in a state that stop control is executed while holding therotation position of the motor and to stop the motor while holding themotor position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to at least partially solve theproblems in the conventional technology.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a motor control devicethat includes a motor lock state determining unit configured todetermine whether a motor is in a lock state in which the motor cannotbe rotated based on rotation information of the motor; a position holdstate determining unit configured to determine whether the motor is in aposition hold state in which the motor is stopped with a rotationposition of the motor being held; a lock detection invalidationdetermining unit configured to invalidate the determination of the lockstate of the motor executed by the motor lock state determining unitwhen it is determined by the position hold state determining unit thatthe motor is in the position hold state and when a predeterminedcondition is satisfied; a position error correction unit configured tocorrect an error of a target stop position of the motor so that theerror falls within a predetermined range when the determination of thelock state of the motor is invalidated by the lock detectioninvalidation determining unit; and a motor control unit configured toperform control to change a rotation direction of the motor in a timeshorter than a time in which the motor lock state determining unitdetermines that the motor is in the lock state when the motor is in theposition hold state after the error is corrected.

According to another embodiment, there is provided an image formingapparatus that includes the motor control device according to the aboveembodiment; and the motor driven by the motor control device as adriving source to convey a sheet.

According to still another embodiment, there is provided a motor controlmethod that includes determining whether a motor is in a lock state inwhich the motor cannot be rotated based on rotation information of themotor; determining whether the motor is in a position hold state inwhich the motor is stopped with a rotation position of the motor beingheld; invalidating the determination of the lock state of the motor whenit is determined that the motor is in the position hold state and when apredetermined condition is satisfied; correcting an error of a targetstop position of the motor so that the error falls within apredetermined range when the determination of the lock state of themotor is invalidated; and performing control to change a rotationdirection of the motor in a time shorter than a time in which it isdetermined that the motor is in the lock state when the motor is in theposition hold state after the error is corrected.

According to still another embodiment, there is provided anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executableprogram stored thereon. The program instructs a computer to perform:determining whether a motor is in a lock state in which the motor cannotbe rotated based on rotation information of the motor; determiningwhether the motor is in a position hold state in which the motor isstopped with a rotation position of the motor being held; invalidatingthe determination of the lock state of the motor when it is determinedthat the motor is in the position hold state and when a predeterminedcondition is satisfied; correcting an error of a target stop position ofthe motor so that the error falls within a predetermined range when thedetermination of the lock state of the motor is invalidated; andperforming control to change a rotation direction of the motor in a timeshorter than a time in which it is determined that the motor is in thelock state when the motor is in the position hold state after the erroris corrected.

The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical andindustrial significance of this invention will be better understood byreading the following detailed description of presently preferredembodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration view of a motor control deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of themotor control device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a load and a sheet, an ordinary stop state of themotor, and a position hold state of the motor;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a graph illustrating the relationbetween a time and a target speed to which the relation between a motorcontrol state and a lock detection valid/invalid state is applied;

FIG. 5 illustrates the relation between a time at which a motor isstopped from deceleration control and a target speed to which therelation between the motor control state and a motor stop positioncorrection/lock detection valid/invalid state is applied, and therelation between a time and a position error;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a lock detection invalidation processin the position hold state; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating an example of an image formingapparatus according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments according to the invention will be explained below in detailreferring to the accompanying drawings.

Configuration of Motor Control Device

FIG. 1 illustrates a circuit configuration view of a motor controldevice 10 according to an embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, themotor control device 10 includes a controller 1 for controlling themotor control device 10 in its entirety, a CPU 20 for controlling amotor, a ROM 21, a RAM 22, a motor driver 3, an encoder unit 6, and thelike. Note that the circuit configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 is anexample and any configuration may be employed as long as the CPU 20 canfeedback-control a DC motor 5 based on a motor control signal from thecontroller 1, an encoder signal sent from the encoder unit 6, and thelike. Note that, hereinafter, the DC motor 5 will be simply described asthe motor 5.

The controller 1 is configured to control the motor control device 10 inits entirety, and the CPU 20 having various functions as described lateris configured as a part of the controller 1. The controller 1 can send amotor control signal (respective signals, for example, a targetspeed/position, a rotation direction, a start request, a stop request,and the like) to the CPU 20. Note that the motor control signal canexecute a process as an electric signal or as software control such as atable and the like.

The CPU 20 executes the feedback control based on the motor controlsignal received from the controller 1 and the encoder signal sent fromthe encoder unit 6 so that the motor 5 is placed in the desired drivestate. That is, the CPU 20 outputs a motor drive signal (PWM (pulsewidth modulation): PWM control signal, CW/CCW (clockwise/counterclockwise): rotation-direction signal, BRAKE: a brake signal, and thelike) to the motor driver 3. Further, the CPU 20 returns variousmonitoring results, a control state, and the like of the motor 5 to thecontroller 1.

The motor driver 3 drives the motor 5 in rotation based on the motorcontrol signals (PWM, CW/CCW, BRAKE) received from the CPU 20. Forexample, the motor driver 3 applies a voltage to the motor 5 based on adrive duty of the PWM signal. Further, when the motor 5 is a brushlessmotor, the motor driver 3 is input with a Hall element signal 9 andcontrols an ON/OFF timing of respective FETs 7. Note that the FET is anabbreviated name of field effect transistor.

Further, the motor driver 3 monitors various control signals and theHall element signal 9 and clears an internal lock detection counter eachtime the Hall element signal 9 changes (to be described later). When acount of a lock detection counter 3 a has reached a predeterminedthreshold value A, the motor driver 3 determines that a lock state hasbeen achieved and energization of the motor 5 is cut off.

In the embodiment, the example in which the motor driver 3 determinesthe lock state based on the change of the Hall element signal 9, hasbeen explained. In addition to the example, the CPU 20 may detect thelock state of the motor 5 based on a result of detection of the encodersensor (encoder unit 6). Further, the determination based on the Hallelement signal 9 may be executed by the CPU 20.

The motor 5 is the DC motor and driven as a drive unit of a load 11(refer to FIG. 2) such as a carriage roller and the like of an imageforming apparatus (refer to FIG. 7). When the motor 5 is the brushlessmotor, the Hall element signal 9 is output from a Hall element of themotor 5 to the motor driver 3. Further, Vdd 4 denotes a drive voltage ofthe motor 5. Note that the motor 5 may be a brush motor. As generallyknown, the Hall element is a position detecting element for detectingthe position (rotation angle) of a rotor of the motor 5.

The encoder unit (encoder sensor, rotary encoder) 6 is disposed on arotating shaft of the motor 5 and detects the amount of rotation, therotation speed, the rotation direction, and the like of the motor 5. Atwo-phase encoder signal (A phase/B phase) output from the encoder unit6 is monitored by the CPU 20. Note that the encoder unit 6 may beconfigured so as to be disposed to the load 11 or to a unit that isoperated in synchronization with the load 11 in place of being disposedon the rotating shaft of the motor 5.

Further, as a detection unit of the rotation speed of the motor 5, theHall element signal 9 may be sent to the CPU 20 using the Hall elementof the motor 5. In the case, a cost can be reduced in correspondence tothat no sensor is mounted to detect the rotation speed of the motor 5.

The FETs 7 (Q1 to Q4) have an H-bridge circuit configuration for drivingthe motor 5. Note that, although the example of the two-phase is shownin the embodiment, the embodiment is not limited thereto and, in, forexample, a case of a three-phase, a pair of upper and lower FETs isadded in the configuration thereof.

Further, a motor control circuit is connected with a shunt resistor 8 sothat a synthesized current flowing to the motor 5 can be monitored bythe CPU 20.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of themotor control device according to the embodiment. The motor controldevice 10 controls the DC motor 5 as described later. The motor controldevice 10 has the controller 1 for controlling the motor control device10 in its entirety. The controller 1 has a microcomputer system composedof the CPU 20 for executing control based on a control program, the ROM21 in which the control program is stored, the RAM 22 used as a workingmemory, a counter 30, and the like.

The CPU 20 has the functions of a motor lock state determining unit 23,a position hold state determining unit 24, a lock detection invalidationdetermining unit 25, a position error correction unit 26, and a motorcontrol unit 27.

The motor lock state determining unit 23 determines whether or not themotor 5 is in the lock state in which the motor 5 cannot rotate based onthe rotation information of the motor. The position hold statedetermining unit 24 determines whether or not the motor 5 is in aposition hold state in which the motor 5 is stopped with the rotationposition being held. When the position hold state determining unit 24determines that the motor 5 is in the position hold state and when apredetermined condition is satisfied (described later), the lockdetection invalidation determining unit 25 invalidates the determinationof the lock state of the motor 5 executed by the motor lock statedetermining unit 23. The position error correction unit 26 corrects anerror to a target stop position of the motor 5 so that the error fallswithin a predetermined range when the lock detection invalidationdetermining unit 25 invalidates the lock state of the motor 5.

The motor control unit 27 executes control for changing the rotationdirection of the motor 5 in a time shorter than a time in which themotor lock state determining unit 23 determines that the motor 5 is inthe lock state when the determination executed by the position holdstate determining unit 24 is the position hold state and after the errorhas been corrected.

Further, the motor control unit 27 inverts the output of the motor 5with respect to a present rotation direction in a state that stopcontrol is executed while holding the rotation position of the motor 5after a predetermined time has passed after the correction of the error.

Further, the motor control unit sets a PWM value, which is applied tothe motor 5 when the output of the motor 5 is inverted, to a value equalto or less than a PWM value that is planned to be output based on adrive duty by which the motor 5 is controlled.

Further, as the rotation information of the motor 5 used by the motorlock state determining unit 23, the output signal from the encoder unit6 disposed to the motor 5 is used. Further, the rotation information ofthe motor 5 used by the motor lock state determining unit 23 can be alsorealized by using the Hall element signal 9 in the motor 5.

Further, the motor control unit 27 determines the completion ofcorrection of the error executed by the position error correction unit26 depending on whether or not a state that the error is equal to ormore than a predetermined value continues for a predetermined time ormore. Further, the motor control unit 27 determines the completion ofcorrection of the error executed by the position error correction unit26 depending on whether or not the error becomes 0.

Further, the motor control unit 27 changes the control state to thestate that the stop control is executed while holding a rotation stopposition of the motor 5 based on the target speed of the motor 5,whether or not the target position changes, or the internal state of themotor control unit 27.

The motor driver 3 drives the motor 5 in response to the instructionfrom the controller 1 (CPU 20). The motor driver 3 has the lockdetection counter 3 a. The counter 30 has a stable time counter 31 and alock state avoiding counter 32. The functions of the counters will beexplained by a flowchart of FIG. 6 to be described later.

The encoder unit 6 is disposed coaxially to a main shaft of the motor 5or to the load 11. The encoder unit 6 is composed of, for example, anencoder disc 6 a having minute slits disposed at equal intervals and anencoder sensor 6 b having a light emitting/receiving unit and installedacross the slits of the encoder disc 6 a. When the encoder disc 6 adisposed to the main shaft of the motor 5 is rotated, the encoder sensor6 b optically reads the slits being rotated and outputs the read slitsas an electric signal. Note that the configuration of the encoder unit 6is an example and other configuration may be employed as long as theconfiguration can detect the rotation angle of the motor 5. For example,the encoder unit 6 may be configured by using a reflection member to theencoder disc 6 a in place of the slits and causing the encoder sensor 6b to receive the light reflected from the reflection member.

As illustrated in, for example, FIG. 2, the motor 5 and the load 11 suchas the carriage roller and the like have such a mechanism that a driveis transmitted from the motor 5 to the load 11 via a timing belt trainedaround a timing pulley disposed to an output shaft of the motor 5 and atiming pulley disposed to a shaft of the load 11. Motor stop state

Next, the stop state of the motor 5 will be explained. In FIG. 3, (a)illustrates the load 11 (carriage roller, and the like) driven by themotor 5 and a sheet 12. Further, (b) of FIG. 3 illustrates an ordinarystop state, and (c) of FIG. 3 illustrates the position hold state.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus, to provide the sheet12 with a sag while the sheet 12 is being conveyed, it is necessary tostop the motor while hold controlling a motor position (position holdstate) which is discriminated from the ordinary stop state.

In the ordinary stop state illustrated in (b) of FIG. 3, no PWM signalis output from the motor control unit 27 to the motor driver 3 and themotor 5 is in a non-control state. Accordingly, in the ordinary stopstate, (1) a disturbance (torque variation, and the like of the load) isapplied to the motor 5, (2) the stop position of the motor 5 is changedand the sheet 12 is moved, and (3) even if the motor 5 stops, thepositions of the motor 5 and the sheet 12 are not held. As describedabove, in the ordinary stop state, the positions of the motor 5 and thesheet 12 are not held. Note that a brake stop state may be achieved byvalidating a BRAKE signal in place of cutting off the output of the PWMsignal.

In contrast, in the position hold state illustrated in (c) of FIG. 3,the PWM signal is output from the CPU 20 to the motor driver 3 and themotor 5 is placed in the control state. Accordingly, in the positionhold state, (1) a disturbance is applied to the motor 5 and (2) even ifthe stop position is changed and the sheet 12 is moved, (3) the positioncontrol is executed and control for returning the motor 5 to the stopposition is executed by rotating the motor reversely. In the positionhold state, the positions of the motor 5 and the sheet 12 are finallyheld.

Detection of Motor State

Next, a case that the lock state is erroneously detected in the positionhold state will be explained. Note that, in the embodiment, a case thatthe motor driver 3 detects the lock state based on a change of the Hallelement signal 9 from the Hall element of the motor 5 will be explainedas an example.

As described above, the motor driver 3 monitors the various controlsignals and the Hall element signal 9, and each time the Hall elementsignal 9 changes, the motor driver 3 clears the lock detection counter 3a. Further, the motor driver 3 clears the lock detection counter 3 aalso when the various control signals change.

When the count of the lock detection counter 3 a has reached apredetermined threshold value A, since it can be said that the variouscontrol signals and the Hall element signal 9 do not change for apredetermined time, it is determined that the motor 5 is in the lockstate and the energization of the motor 5 is cut off.

Here, in the position hold state ((c) of FIG. 3) described above, whenno disturbance is applied and the motor 5 is in the stop state, sincethe Hall element signal 9 of the motor 5 does not change, the lockdetection counter 3 a is not cleared and the count reaches the thresholdvalue A, thereby there may occur a case that the position hold state iserroneously detected as the lock state.

Lock Detection Invalidation Control

To cope with the problem, the motor control device 10 according to theembodiment has the motor lock state determining unit 23 for detectingthat the motor 5 is in the lock state in which it is locked. Further,the motor control device 10 has the position error correction unit 26for correcting a stop position error when the motor 5 stops. Further,the motor control device 10 includes the motor control unit 27 forchanging a motor output in a state that the stop control is executedwhile holding the motor position when the predetermined time (lock stateavoiding time, a threshold value D) has passed after the correction ofthe stop position error. The predetermined time is set to a time shorterthan a time during which the motor control unit 27 determines that themotor 5 is in the lock state (a lock detection time, the threshold valueA) based on a result of detection from the motor lock state determiningunit 23. A specific control example will be explained below.

The motor lock state determining unit 23 determines the lock state ofthe motor by a detection unit composed by combining the Hall element ofthe motor 5 or the encoder unit 6 with the motor driver 3 or thecontroller 1 based on the respective signals thereof.

FIG. 4 illustrates an explanatory view of a graph illustrating therelation between a time and a target speed to which the relation betweena control state of the motor 5 and a lock detection valid/invalid stateis applied. In the embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when the motor5 that executes ordinary sheet conveying control is ordinarily rotated(acceleration/constant speed/deceleration control), the lock detectionis in the valid state and a damage due to overload, and the like isprevented. In contrast, in the position hold state, the erroneousdetection is prevented by preventing the lock state from being detected,thereby it is made possible to stop the motor 5 while holding the motorposition as described later.

Note that, although the following cases are exemplified as a trigger (apredetermined condition) for the motor control device 10 to change thelock detection from the valid state to the invalid state, any of themeans may be employed.

(1) When the target speed reaches 0 in the CPU 20 (lock detectioninvalidation determining unit 25)(2) When the target position becomes not to change in the CPU 20 (lockdetection invalidation determining unit 25)(3) When an internal state becomes a position hold in the CPU 20 (lockdetection invalidation determining unit 25)(4) When the internal state becomes a stop position correction in theCPU 20 (lock detection invalidation determining unit 25)(5) When a motor control signal is not input to the CPU 20 (lockdetection invalidation determining unit 25) (when a table is used as thecontrol signal)

In FIG. 5, (a) illustrates the relation between the control state of themotor 5 and the stop position correction/the lock detection invalidstate of the motor 5 in a graph illustrating the relation between a timewhen the motor 5 is stopped from the deceleration control and the targetspeed. In FIG. 5, (b) illustrates a graph illustrating the relationbetween the time and the position error (a change of the position errorto the target speed). Position error correction control when the motor 5stops will be explained referring to FIG. 5.

When a sheet is conveyed in the image forming apparatus (refer to FIG.7), although a stop position of the sheet becomes important, a targetstop position may fail to be reached at the time a decelerationoperation at given deceleration has been finished depending on a speedat the time of deceleration of the motor 5, the state of the load 11,and the like.

Accordingly, the CPU 20 (position error correction unit 26) executes theposition error correction control of the motor stop position. Asillustrated in (b) of FIG. 5, the position error correction control isexecuted by repeatedly rotating the motor 5 clockwise andcounterclockwise. Further, when the position error has fallen within apredetermined range, the position error correction control is finished,and control goes to the lock detection invalidation control. Note that,even when the position error occurs by a disturbance in the positionhold state illustrated in (c) of FIG. 3, the position error correctioncontrol is executed likewise.

In the position error correction control of the motor stop position,when the lock detection is avoided by inverting the output of the motor5, vibration is increased and a time until the stop position isstabilized is increased (time until the position error correction isfinished). Accordingly, this is not preferable because there is apossibility that an influence by which a process performance isdeteriorated occurs.

Thus, in the embodiment, the output of the motor 5 is inverted after theposition error correction control has been finished by the positionerror correction unit 26 in a lock invalidation period by the lockdetection invalidation determining unit 25 and the motor control unit 27has stabilized the position at which the rotation of the motor 5 isstopped.

The lock detection invalidation process explained above and executed bythe motor control device 10 will be explained referring to a flowchartof FIG. 6. Note that although it is assumed that the lock detectioninvalidation process is executed, for example, once per 1 msec by thelock detection invalidation determining unit 25, the intervals of theprocess are not limited thereto.

First, the lock detection invalidation determining unit 25 determineswhether or not it is the lock detection invalidation period (step S1).Here, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when it is a lock detection valid period(step S1: No), since it is the time at which the motor 5 that executesthe ordinary sheet conveying control is ordinarily rotated, the lockdetection invalidation process is finished. In contrast, when it is thelock detection invalidation period (step S1: Yes), next, it is confirmedthat whether or not the position error correction control ((b) of FIG.5) has been finished and the position error has been stabilized.

Here, the lock detection invalidation determining unit 25 determineswhether or not the position error is equal to or less than apredetermined threshold value B (step S2). When the position errorexceeds the threshold value B (step S2: No), since it can be determinedthat the position error correction control is being executed, the stabletime counter 31 during a time in which the position error has beenstabilized (stable time) is cleared (step S4), and the lock detectioninvalidation process executed by the lock detection invalidationdetermining unit 25 is finished.

In contrast, when the lock detection invalidation determining unit 25determines that the position error is equal to or less than thethreshold value (step S2: Yes), since it can be determined that thecorrection control of the position error has been finished, a time inwhich the position error is stabilized is measured. Specifically, thestable time counter 31 is incremented (step S3). With the operation, thestable time after the correction control of the position error ismeasured.

Next, it is determined whether or not the count of the stable timecounter 31 (the stable time in which the position error is stabilized)is equal to or more than a threshold value C (step S5). When the stabletime in which the position error is stabilized is less than thethreshold value C (step S5: No), the lock detection invalidation processis finished. In contrast, when the stable time in which the positionerror is stabilized is equal to or more than the threshold value (stepS5: Yes), since it can be determined that the position error isstabilized for the predetermined time or more after the correctioncontrol of the position error, the process goes to avoidance of the lockstate.

When the lock state is avoided, first, the lock state avoiding counter32 is counted up (step S6). Next, it is determined whether or not thecount of the lock state avoiding counter 32 (the lock state avoidingtime) becomes equal to or more than the threshold value D (step S7).Here, the threshold value D is set to a time shorter than the lock stateavoiding counter (threshold value A) to avoid the lock detection.

In the determination of the lock detection invalidation determining unit25, when the lock state avoiding time is less than the threshold value D(step S7: No), the lock detection invalidation process is finished. Incontrast, in the determination of the lock detection invalidationdetermining unit 25, when the lock state avoiding time is equal to ormore than the threshold value (step S7: Yes), first, the lock stateavoiding counter 32 is cleared to avoid detection in a next process(step S8). Note that the lock state avoiding counter 32 may be cleared(step S8) after the control for inverting the output of the motor 5(step S9).

Next, the motor control unit 27 of the CPU 20 executes the motor outputinversion control. As a signal for inverting the output of the motor 5,there is, for example, a brake signal, an enable signal, a rotationdirection signal, and the like. That is, the lock detection counter 3 aof the motor driver 3 is cleared by changing the control signal that isreferred to by the motor lock state determining unit 23.

Further, in the inversion control of the output of the motor 5 (stepS9), it is preferable to set the PWM value, which is applied to themotor 5 based on the drive duty of the PWM signal, to a value smallerthan the PWM value planned to be output. For example, when a controlvoltage value (PWM value planned to be output) calculated as a value tobe output at a corresponding period is denoted by Cd and a controlvoltage value to be output in the inversion control is denoted by Cr, itis preferable that the control voltage value Cr satisfy Cr≦Cd. This isbecause that since the control voltage value Cr made nearer to 0 canmake force that tends to move in a reverse rotation direction smaller, aminute amount of vibration of the motor 5 can be suppressed.

As described above, in the motor control device 10 according to theembodiment, the control signal and the like which the motor lock statedetermining unit 23 refers to is changed in a period shorter than thetime in which the lock state is detected. The lock detection counter 3 ais cleared by the control, thereby the erroneous detection of the lockof the motor 5 in the position hold state can be avoided.

Note that the process illustrated in FIG. 6 is an example and is notlimited thereto. For example, the threshold value B of the positionerror that is determined at step S2 may be set to “0” in place of theprocess as to the stable time (steps S3 to S5), and a process forshifting to the avoidance of the lock state (step S6 and thereafter) maybe executed when the position error becomes “0”.

Image Forming Apparatus

An example of an image forming apparatus including the DC motor 5, whichis controlled by the motor control device 10 explained above, as adriving source will be explained.

FIG. 7 is an overall configuration view illustrating an embodiment ofthe image forming apparatus according to the invention. As illustratedin FIG. 7, an image forming apparatus 100 is a tandem color printer. Abottle accommodation unit 101 disposed in an upper portion of a mainbody of the image forming apparatus 100 is detachably (exchangeably)installed with four toner bottles 102Y, 102M, 102C, 102K correspondingto respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black).

An intermediate transfer unit 85 is disposed below the bottleaccommodation unit 101. Image forming units 74Y, 74M, 74C, 74Kcorresponding to the respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black)are disposed side by side so as to confront an intermediate transferbelt 78 of the intermediate transfer unit 85.

The respective image forming units 74Y, 74M, 74C, 74K are disposed withphotosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75K, respectively. Further, acharging unit 73, a developing unit 76, a cleaning unit 77, aneutralization unit (not illustrated), and the like are disposed in theperiphery of each of the photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75K. Then,an image forming process (a charging process, exposure process,development process, transfer process, and cleaning process) is executedin each of the photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75K and images ofrespective colors are formed on the respective photosensitive drums 75Y,75M, 75C, 75K.

The photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75K are driven in rotation by anot illustrated drive motor clockwise in FIG. 6. Then, surfaces of thephotosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75K are electrostatically chargeduniformly at the position of the charging unit 73 (charge step).

Thereafter, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75Kreach a radiation position to which a laser beam emitted from anexposure unit 103 is radiated, and electrostatic latent imagescorresponding to the respective colors are formed by exposing andscanning the surfaces at the position (exposure step).

Thereafter, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75Kreach the positions confronting the developing units 76, theelectrostatic latent images are developed at the positions, and tonerimages of the respective colors are formed (development step).

Thereafter, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75Kreach the positions confronting the intermediate transfer belt 78 andprimary transfer bias rollers 79Y, 79M, 79C, 79K. At the positions, thetoner images on the photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75K aretransferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 78 (primary transferstep). At the time, non-transferred toners remain on the photosensitivedrums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75K even in a slight amount.

Thereafter, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75Kreach a position confronting the cleaning unit 77. At the position, thenon-transferred toners remaining on the photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M,75C, 75K are mechanically collected by a cleaning blade of the cleaningunit 77 (cleaning step).

Finally, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75Kreach a position confronting the not illustrated neutralization unit anda potential remaining on the photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75K isremoved at the position. With the operation, a series of the imageforming processes executed on the photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C,75K is finished.

Thereafter, the toner images of the respective colors formed on therespective photosensitive drums are transferred onto the intermediatetransfer belt 78 in an overlapping fashion via the development step.With the operation, a color image is formed on the intermediate transferbelt 78.

Here, the intermediate transfer unit 85 is configured as describedbelow. That is, the intermediate transfer unit 85 is composed of theintermediate transfer belt 78, the four primary transfer bias rollers79Y, 79M, 79C, 79K, a secondary transfer backup roller 82, a cleaningbackup roller 83, a tension roller 84, an intermediate transfer cleaningunit 80, and the like. The intermediate transfer belt 78 is stretchedand supported by the three rollers 82 to 84 and endlessly moved in anarrow direction in FIG. 7 by the secondary transfer backup roller 82driven in rotation.

The four primary transfer bias rollers 79Y, 79M, 79C, 79K form primarytransfer nips by sandwiching the intermediate transfer belt 78 betweenthem and the photosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75K, respectively.Then, a transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of toner isapplied to the primary transfer bias rollers 79Y, 79M, 79C, 79K.

Then, the intermediate transfer belt 78 travels in the arrow directionand sequentially passes through the primary transfer nips of therespective primary transfer bias rollers 79Y, 79M, 79C, 79K. With theoperation, the toner images of the respective colors on thephotosensitive drums 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75K are primarily transferred ontothe intermediate transfer belt 78 in an overlapping fashion.

Thereafter, the intermediate transfer belt 78 onto which the tonerimages of the respective colors are transferred in the overlappingfashion reaches a position confronting a secondary transfer roller 89.At the position, the secondary transfer backup roller 82 forms asecondary transfer nip by sandwiching the intermediate transfer belt 78between it and the secondary transfer roller 89. Then, the four-colortoner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 78 is transferredonto the recording medium P conveyed to the position of the secondarytransfer nip. At the time, a non-transferred toner that is nottransferred onto the recording medium P remains on the intermediatetransfer belt 78.

Thereafter, the intermediate transfer belt 78 reaches the position ofthe intermediate transfer cleaning unit 80. At the position, thenon-transfer toner on the intermediate transfer belt 78 is collected.With the operation, a series of the transfer processes executed on theintermediate transfer belt 78 is finished.

Here, the recording medium P conveyed to the position of the secondarytransfer nip has been conveyed from a paper feeding unit 104 disposed toa lower portion of the image forming apparatus 100 via a sheet feedroller 97, a pair of registration rollers 98, and the like.

For details, plural recording mediums P such as transfer sheets areaccommodated in the paper feeding unit 104 by being overlapped. Then,when the sheet feed roller 97 is driven in rotation counterclockwise inFIG. 7, an uppermost recording medium P is fed toward between the pairof registration rollers 98.

The recording medium P having been conveyed to the pair of registrationrollers 98 stops once at the position of a roller nip of the pair ofregistration rollers 98 whose drive in rotation has been stopped. Then,the pair of registration rollers 98 is driven in rotation at a timing ofthe color image on the intermediate transfer belt 78 and the recordingmedium P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip. With theoperation, a desired color image is transferred onto the recordingmedium P.

Thereafter, the recording medium P to which the color image has beentransferred at the position of the secondary transfer nip is conveyed tothe position of a fixing device 90. Then, at the position, the colorimage, which has been transferred onto a surface of the recording mediumP, is fixed onto the recording medium P by heat and pressure applied bya fixing roller 91 and a pressing roller 92.

Thereafter, the recording medium P is discharged to the outside of theapparatus passing between rollers of a pair of ejecting rollers 99.Recording mediums P onto which an image has been transferred and whichhave been discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the pair ofejecting rollers 99 are sequentially stacked on a stack unit 93 asoutput images. With the operation, the series of the image formingprocesses in the image forming apparatus is completed.

The motor 5 is used as the driving source of the load 11 such as therespective rollers of the image forming apparatus 100 explained above,and the motor 5 is controlled by the motor control device 10 accordingto the embodiment. With the configuration, it becomes possible toconfigure the image forming apparatus 100 that has an improvedabnormality detection accuracy of the motor 5 while it is beingcontrolled.

Although it is assumed that a program executed in the embodiment isprovided by being previously assembled to the ROM 21, the program is notlimited thereto. The program executed in the embodiment may be providedas a computer program product by being recorded to a computer-readablestorage medium. The program may be provided by being recorded to acomputer-readable storage, for example, a CD-ROM, a flexible disc (FD),a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), and the like using aninstallable file or an executable file.

Further, the program executed in the embodiment may be configured so asto be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network suchas the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the programexecuted in the embodiment may be provided or distributed via a networksuch as the Internet.

The program executed in the embodiment is configured as a moduleincluding the motor lock state determining unit 23, the position holdstate determining unit 24, the lock detection invalidation determiningunit 25, the position error correction unit 26, and the motor controlunit 27 described above. As actual hardware, the respective units areloaded on a main storage device such as the RAM 22 by that the CPU 20(processor) reads the program from the storage medium and executes theprogram. Then, the motor lock state determining unit 23, the positionhold state determining unit 24, the lock detection invalidationdetermining unit 25, the position error correction unit 26, and themotor control unit 27 are created on the main storage device.

According to the embodiments, there is achieved an effect that anerroneous detection of lock of a motor in a state that stop control isexecuted while holding a motor position (a position hold state) isavoided and the motor can be stopped while holding the motor position.

Although the invention has been described with respect to specificembodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims arenot to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying allmodifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein setforth.

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A motor control device for outputting a controlsignal to a motor driver that cut off energization of a motor when thecontrol signal and a signal changing depending on driving the motor donot change for a predetermined time, wherein the control signal outputto the motor driver is changed in a period shorter than thepredetermined time when the motor is in a position hold state in whichcontrol for returning the motor to an original position is executed inresponse to a disturbance applied to the motor.
 13. The motor controldevice according to claim 12, wherein the control signal is a motordrive signal.
 14. The motor control device according to claim 12,wherein the control signal is a rotation direction signal indicating adirection of rotation of the motor.
 15. The motor control deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein the control signal is a brake signal. 16.The motor control device according to claim 12, wherein changes in therotation direction signal indicates changes in the direction of rotationof the motor.
 17. The motor control device according to claim 13,wherein the motor drive signal is a pulse width modulation signal.
 18. Amotor system comprising: the motor control device according to claim 12;the motor; and the motor driver configured to apply a voltage to themotor based on the control signal output from the motor control device.19. The motor system according to claim 18, wherein the motor includes aHall element, and the signal changing depending on driving the motorincludes at least a Hall element signal output from the Hall element.20. The motor system according to claim 18, further comprising anencoder disc that is disposed coaxially to a main shaft of the motor orto a load.
 21. The motor system according to claim 20, wherein thesignal changing depending on driving the motor includes at least anencoder signal output depending on rotation of the encoder disc.
 22. Aconveying device comprising the motor system according to claim
 7. 23.An image forming apparatus comprising the motor system according toclaim
 18. 24. A motor control method comprising: outputting a controlsignal to a motor driver that cut off energization of a motor when thecontrol signal and a signal changing depending on driving the motor donot change for a predetermined time; and changing the control signal ina period shorter than the predetermined time when the motor is in aposition hold state in which control for returning the motor to anoriginal position is executed in response to a disturbance applied tothe motor.
 25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with anexecutable program stored thereon and executed by a motor control devicefor outputting a control signal to a motor driver that cut offenergization of a motor when the control signal and a signal changingdepending on driving the motor do not change for a predetermined time,wherein the program instructs the motor control device to performchanging the control signal in a period shorter than the predeterminedtime when the motor is in a position hold state in which control forreturning the motor to an original position is executed in response to adisturbance applied to the motor.